CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Secondhand smoke exposure in COPD patients who have never smoked
1
Area of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
2
Pulmonology Department, NeumoVigoI+i Research Group, University Hospital Complex of Vigo (CHUVI), Vigo, Spain
3
Pulmonology Department, University Hospital Complex of Ferrol, Ferrol, Spain
4
Pulmonology Department, Lucus Augusti University Hospital, Lugo, Spain
Tob. Prev. Cessation 2026;12(Supplement 1):A102
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND-AIM:
Smoking is the main risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, around one-third of COPD cases occur in individuals who have never smoked. In recent years, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) has become an important health risk factor. Currently, exposure to SHS is causally associated with lung cancer, asthma, ischemic heart disease and COPD, among other diseases. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of COPD patients who have never smoked, taking into account their exposure to SHS.
METHODS:
The sample is based on a multicentre, ambispective cohort study of never-smoking COPD cases with a confirmed spirometric diagnosis. Cases were diagnosed between 1993 and 2023 and recruited from three hospitals in Galicia, Spain. Exposure to SHS was assessed at the time of recruitment by asking whether the patient had lived with a smoker in the previous 20 years. Exposed and unexposed cases to SHS were compared in terms of sex, age at diagnosis, and time to diagnosis.
RESULTS:
The sample consisted of 248 never-smoking COPD cases with information on exposure to SHS. Of these cases, 64.1% were women and 35.1% had lived with a smoker in the last 20 years. Significant differences were observed between exposed and unexposed cases regarding sex: 57.1% of unexposed cases were women and 42.9% were men, while 77% of exposed cases were women and 33% were men (p-value=0.002). No significant differences were observed between exposed and unexposed cases in terms of age at diagnosis or time to diagnosis (i.e. the time elapsed between the first consultation compatible with COPD symptoms and diagnosis). The median age at diagnosis was 66 years for those not exposed, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 52–74 years, and 70 years for those exposed (IQR=61–75). The median time to diagnosis was 3.8 years (IQR: 1.1–8.0) for those not exposed, and 3.1 years (IQR: 1.2–6.6) for those exposed.
CONCLUSIONS:
Women with COPD who have never smoked are more frequently exposed to SHS at home than men. No significant differences were observed in age at diagnosis or time to diagnosis between never-smoking COPD cases exposed to SHS and those not exposed. It is important to consider exposure to SHS in individuals who have never smoked but have symptoms consistent with COPD, particularly women.
Smoking is the main risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, around one-third of COPD cases occur in individuals who have never smoked. In recent years, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) has become an important health risk factor. Currently, exposure to SHS is causally associated with lung cancer, asthma, ischemic heart disease and COPD, among other diseases. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of COPD patients who have never smoked, taking into account their exposure to SHS.
METHODS:
The sample is based on a multicentre, ambispective cohort study of never-smoking COPD cases with a confirmed spirometric diagnosis. Cases were diagnosed between 1993 and 2023 and recruited from three hospitals in Galicia, Spain. Exposure to SHS was assessed at the time of recruitment by asking whether the patient had lived with a smoker in the previous 20 years. Exposed and unexposed cases to SHS were compared in terms of sex, age at diagnosis, and time to diagnosis.
RESULTS:
The sample consisted of 248 never-smoking COPD cases with information on exposure to SHS. Of these cases, 64.1% were women and 35.1% had lived with a smoker in the last 20 years. Significant differences were observed between exposed and unexposed cases regarding sex: 57.1% of unexposed cases were women and 42.9% were men, while 77% of exposed cases were women and 33% were men (p-value=0.002). No significant differences were observed between exposed and unexposed cases in terms of age at diagnosis or time to diagnosis (i.e. the time elapsed between the first consultation compatible with COPD symptoms and diagnosis). The median age at diagnosis was 66 years for those not exposed, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 52–74 years, and 70 years for those exposed (IQR=61–75). The median time to diagnosis was 3.8 years (IQR: 1.1–8.0) for those not exposed, and 3.1 years (IQR: 1.2–6.6) for those exposed.
CONCLUSIONS:
Women with COPD who have never smoked are more frequently exposed to SHS at home than men. No significant differences were observed in age at diagnosis or time to diagnosis between never-smoking COPD cases exposed to SHS and those not exposed. It is important to consider exposure to SHS in individuals who have never smoked but have symptoms consistent with COPD, particularly women.
| eISSN: | 2459-3087 |
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